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Morelia’s events calendar is anchored by two internationally known festivals, a film festival in October and a classical music festival in November, and the city sits in a state where Day of the Dead is celebrated more elaborately than almost anywhere in Mexico. Add the annual city fair in spring and the Monarch butterfly season in winter, and you can plan a trip around a specific event almost any time of year. Here are the main Morelia events and festivals, with dates and what to expect. To pick a base, read the best neighborhoods in Morelia guide.
Morelia Events and Festivals: Music and Film
Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia (FICM)
Held for about ten days in mid-October, FICM is Mexico’s leading film festival, with premieres, open-air screenings in the plazas and a strong documentary section, all centred on the historic district. Most public screenings are free or low-cost, but popular galas sell out, so book tickets online through the festival site when the programme drops in late September. The event draws big crowds, so book your hotel two to three months ahead if you plan to attend. You can also read the complete Morelia guide for an overview of the whole city.
Festival Internacional de Música de Morelia
The classical music festival runs about two weeks in mid-November, with orchestral, chamber and choral concerts in the cathedral, the Conservatorio de las Rosas and theatres across the centre. Many events are free or cheap, and the opening concerts with the local orchestra are the highlights. This is the single busiest cultural stretch of the year in Morelia, so reserve accommodation early.
Morelia Events and Festivals: Day of the Dead
Noche de Ánimas and Día de Muertos
From October 31 to November 2, Morelia fills with marigold altars, candlelit plazas and catrina parades, part of a Michoacán-wide celebration called Noche de Ánimas. The city’s plazas and museums set up large ofrendas, and the cathedral steps are a gathering point on the night of November 1. It is free to wander, though restaurants fill up, so reserve dinner tables for the evenings of November 1 and 2.
Noche de Muertos in Pátzcuaro and Tzintzuntzan
The most famous Day of the Dead observances happen about an hour west of Morelia, where the lakeside town of Pátzcuaro and the village of Tzintzuntzan hold all-night cemetery vigils with candles, flowers and music on November 1 and 2. Thousands of visitors descend on the area, so buses from Morelia run packed and hotels sell out weeks ahead; many people make Pátzcuaro a day trip instead. See the Morelia travel tips and FAQ for bus details.
Morelia Events and Festivals: Fairs and Seasonal Highlights
Feria de Morelia
The Feria de Morelia, tied to the city’s founding anniversary on May 18, runs for roughly three weeks from late April through mid-May with concerts, rides, food stalls and agricultural and craft exhibitions at the fairgrounds south of the centre. Entry is inexpensive, and the fair marks the start of the region’s hot, dry season, so evenings are the comfortable time to go. Musical headliners play on weekends, with tickets sold separately.
Monarch Butterfly Season
From late November to March, the Monarch butterfly reserves east of the city reach their peak, and Morelia serves as the main gateway town for organised tours. The butterflies cluster in the fir forests on warm, sunny days and stay quiet when it is cold or overcast, so check the forecast before you go, using the Morelia weather by month guide. Combine a butterfly visit with the things to do in Morelia for a full winter itinerary.
For help deciding when to come, see the best time to visit Morelia guide, and use the where to stay in Morelia guide to book a base near the festival venues.
